MUSKOGEE, Okla — Just before midnight on Friday, a structure at 302 N. Main in Muskogee collapsed.
Officials say the building is doesn't have any utilities and is thought to be vacant.
When Sergeant Wilkins of Muskogee PD responded to the area of Main and Court he heard something fall inside the building. Officers blocked off the roads around the building out of caution, shortly after one of the officers captured the building collapse on their body camera.
City officials worked quickly to safely secure the site and bring down other parts of the building that posed an imminent threat to the public. The viaduct bridge on Court Street was not directly impacted by the collapse but will be inspected to ensure that its’ structural integrity remains intact.
No damage to the bridge is suspected, at this time.
“Public safety is our top concern,” said Mike Miller, City Manager. “We are taking every step to ensure that the area around this property is secure and that our citizens are safe.”
Lynn Hamlin, with Muskogee police, said power will be lost in the downtown Muskogee area during that process, they are not certain to what extent the number of businesses and citizens will be affected.
“We just want to make sure the citizens and the public are aware that we have several streets blocked in the downtown area. Main street from Martin Luther King to Okmulgee at this time is blocked and then Main Street to the west to at least second street is blocked in that same area from like Dennison to Broadway.", Hamlin said.
The building, commonly known as the Royal Casket Building, has been condemned since 2016 when a portion of the east side of the building collapsed.
A portion of Main Street remains blocked from traffic.
The Muskogee City Council is expected to discuss this issue at the weekly City Council meeting, Tuesday evening at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located on the 3rd floor of City Hall, 229 W. Okmulgee.
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